Recent Comments:
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid set for 2009 in Korea with no help from gov't {Autoblog Green}
Jun 17th 2008 11:03PM LPG hybrid.... that is aimed straight at the Australian market (where Hyundai is already a huge seller). Since LPG is about 60c a liter here, and has about a energy density of 80% that of oil - it will make for some seriously cheap fill ups.
With idea like this, I think I am going to keep the current Hyundai lantra and the very old and shabby looking RAV4 ticking over until this arrives on our shores.
First Ride: Piaggio MP3 400 and 500 {Autoblog Green}
May 28th 2008 1:28AM Okay, simple question for me is, does countersteering work?
$200 oil "Super Spike" within 6 months? {Autoblog Green}
May 8th 2008 12:23AM Poster #3, Mike is dead on the money. Look at the people who are first to call price hikes in oil all the time.
The Skidscooter, an amphibious scooter concept {Autoblog Green}
Apr 9th 2008 10:28PM In industrial design courses, I reckon there is far too little emphasis on engineering. This is evidence of that, and it is evidence of why there are so many ID students and so few ID positions in industry.
SUB G1 three-wheeler makes commuting an exciting, risky affair {Autoblog}
Mar 13th 2008 10:20PM No reverse gear? Can I suggest to them to go steal a Honda Goldwing style reverse gear?
GM CEO asks car dealerships to lobby state, local government against regulating tailpipe emissions {Autoblog Green}
Feb 10th 2008 7:08PM I think the point that is trying to be made is is that economically, uniform regulations are something that is important to auto makers. If you have one state with different requirements, you may need substatially alter the configuration of that car to meet those requirements.
However, the motorbike industry for years has been faced with this problem. Their approach is not now simply make bikes for a combination of the toughest standards that are put in. So, all bikes sold in the Australian market comply with Ero-3 emissions standards, even though we do not require that locally.
What the car companies want is to be able to use the least stringent of possible requirements and get away with it. Considering that federal regulations appear to be more lax and Arnie's regulations - GM, of course, want the cheaper option. After all the cheaper option keeps their cars cost compeditive without too much pain for GM.
Sailors race for a Vectrix MAXI Scooter in Australia {Autoblog Green}
Jan 23rd 2008 12:51AM Actually, I'm an Aussie and a motorcylist :) Problem is that the lion's share of our electricity comes from burning coal, so the CO2 emissions are just going to shift. We also have issues about running coal power at near capacity to start off with as governments don't want to build more coal fired power. On top of that, hydro supplies are down.
The real obstacle is that out cities (where the scoot is king) are spread out. My daily commute will almost exhaust the energy supply of a vectrix daily (so there is no scope for side trips etc).
If the scoot was cost compeditive (which at $12,000 it is not) then more people would look at it. But when most scooters over here are going to around the $5000 new, then you are way away from the market. Considring that you're looking at $7000-$9000 for a second hand low kilometer sports bike as well - they are priced out of the market a bit.
Thanks for the blog - I'll give it a read.
Regards
Jase
Sailors race for a Vectrix MAXI Scooter in Australia {Autoblog Green}
Jan 22nd 2008 8:06PM I feel like I am going to be zero help here, but it has to be said.
The maxi scooter market in Australia is limited because most people who want a big bike, go and buy a big bike. People that want to nip around town on a scooter, get something small like a vespa (or one of those groovy little Sachs Madass things). If you are going to get a big scoot it is because you want to be able to get out of town on the thing. a sub 200k range (with no prospect of an easy refuel) means that is just not going to work in Australia at least.
If this thing was the size of a normal 125cc scoot - then I reckon it would sell like hotcakes. The other thing is that your market would also extend to people that currently have bikes as well - as many of them want a cheap easy run around for communting on. In order to have a sucess there you need a thing economical bike that will do 100kph.
The last thing, give someone in the market one of these and get them to blog their experiences with it - warts and all. You know the crap like 'bah! I forgot to plug it in and got half way to work. That would give people a bit of an idea of what they are buying into.
After 55 years of continuous production, Royal Enfield discontinues the Bullet {Autoblog Green}
Jan 21st 2008 11:34PM 2.6l / 100k to the rest of the world. That assumes that you are rolling downhill with the throttle closed. Otherwise you are looking around the 5l / 100k mark.
Good idea? Smart-clone importers violate court injunction at Bologna Auto Show {Autoblog Green}
Dec 12th 2007 7:37AM A smart costs $20,000 Australian Dollars (so that's about $18,800USD in current conversion).
The smart has an engine 50cc smaller than you 750cc motorbike that I purchased for $7000 Australian dollars ($6000 USD).
Now I can buy a better appointed Hyundai for $13,000 with a 1.5 litre engine and double the room.
Unless these cars come in under the cost of every other car they are never going to sell. The only real customers for these in Australia are firms that want to do promotion by having a funky little car. They used to use vespas a few years back - but everyone thinks they are cool and cheap - and there are now thousands of scooter riders on them around the streets.
